Technically, I've known Peter since he was in high school (he might have even been in middle school the first time I met him - geesh that makes me feel old). But I only knew him a little bit. His father was a partner at my former law firm. I've always loved his whole family, but in reality Peter was in college, then law school, most of the time I was around them. I knew him only enough to be friendly.
Enter Claire. A couple of years ago, we attended Peter's parent's "chili bowl" party on New Year's Day. Peter was there with his girlfriend, Claire. Turns out Claire lived in Memphis, was a teacher, and loves, loves, loves kids. When she found out we had four of them, she wanted to know all about them. She was so interested in them that we decided, spur of the moment, to fly her down to Houston 3 weeks later to keep them for the weekend. A little crazy, yes. But, not surprisingly, they loved her. She's around, babysitting and cheering at ball games when in town, ever since.
So Peter asked Claire to marry him, which thrilled us because that meant CLAIRE IS MOVING TO HOUSTON!!! But then even possibly more exciting, Claire called a few days later and asked if Helen and Will would be the flower girl and ring bearer in their wedding.
Cort and I were absolutely honored to be included in the wedding, and quickly said yes and started figuring out how to get our brood to Memphis (more on that later).
But . . .
The problem was, Helen and Will didn't seem quite so honored. Will's trepidation was thankfully short-lived. I made the mistake of telling him that he would wear a tuxedo with a bow tie. He was indignant, because "bows are for girls." Luckily, we got that straightened out by showing him a picture of Cort in a tux.
Of course, Helen was more difficult. We told her she would wear a pretty dress, and she proclaimed that she would not wear a dress. After Will got his tux, she stated that she would be in the wedding only if she could wear a tux. At one point, she said that she would not carry flowers but would only carry a soccer ball. Claire's mom made the dress, and emailed a picture when she finished, which I showed to Helen hoping it would get her excited. It didn't. She said quite adamantly that she didn't like it and wouldn't wear it. I was prepared for the fact that when we got the dress from Claire's mom at the rehearsal, I would officially become the mom of the. rudest. child. ever.
But, when the time came, they were great. After a little trepidation, Will and Helen got their small part down during the rehearsal. Claire's mom gave us the dress--which really was absolutely beautiful, with all sorts of little detail that was much more impressive in person than via email--and Helen just stared and whispered, "I love it." She was very excited to be the only one with a beautiful white dress like Claire's.
And Will -- really, what is more adorable than a little boy in a size 3T tuxedo?
So the time came, and the bridesmaids started going in one by one. I stood with Will and Helen in front of a nervous Claire and her father, having told Will and Helen that they were Claire's "line leaders." I felt pretty confident that they would do just fine.
And that's when Helen started picking her nose.
I tried to be nonchalant, addressing the issue along with others: remember to hold hands, walk slowly, and don't pick your nose. She kept going. She was really digging. There were only a couple of bridesmaids left before it was their turn. Of all the things I pictured going wrong, this one had not occurred to me. So at that point, somewhat alarmingly, I told her that if she had a booger that was bothering her, I would get it out, but that she could not walk down the aisle with her finger up her nose! She didn't want to hear it, so she turned away from me and toward Claire and her dad. A few seconds later, Claire's dad calmed my fears: "Don't worry. She ate it."
And with that little event, which I like to think was my family's contribution to distracting Claire from any nervousness she may have felt about walking down the aisle, they were off.
They did wonderfully -- holding hands, walking slowly, Helen giving Peter a high five at the altar, and then going to sit down with the rest of our family.
All the kids were interested in the ceremony and the logistics of exactly when they were married and whether Claire's last name was now Tipps. Charlie and Joe had been asking for days whether the minister would say "You may kiss the bride," so that was a highlight. (After the kiss, Helen asked, "Did she want him to kiss her?) And afterwards, we went to the reception, where the Astros groom cake was worth the trip to Memphis for Joe and Charlie. The kids danced a bit, then went home and crashed.
But not before Joseph asked when we could see Claire again. When I told him that she would be living in Houston after she got back from her honeymoon and we could see her anytime, he was thrilled. As are we.
I know the wedding was about Peter and Claire, but I was pretty proud of my two adorable kiddos too.
*Photos courtesy of the sister of the groom, who annoyingly has the same camera we do but takes much better pictures with it.
Cort and I were absolutely honored to be included in the wedding, and quickly said yes and started figuring out how to get our brood to Memphis (more on that later).
But . . .
The problem was, Helen and Will didn't seem quite so honored. Will's trepidation was thankfully short-lived. I made the mistake of telling him that he would wear a tuxedo with a bow tie. He was indignant, because "bows are for girls." Luckily, we got that straightened out by showing him a picture of Cort in a tux.
Of course, Helen was more difficult. We told her she would wear a pretty dress, and she proclaimed that she would not wear a dress. After Will got his tux, she stated that she would be in the wedding only if she could wear a tux. At one point, she said that she would not carry flowers but would only carry a soccer ball. Claire's mom made the dress, and emailed a picture when she finished, which I showed to Helen hoping it would get her excited. It didn't. She said quite adamantly that she didn't like it and wouldn't wear it. I was prepared for the fact that when we got the dress from Claire's mom at the rehearsal, I would officially become the mom of the. rudest. child. ever.
But, when the time came, they were great. After a little trepidation, Will and Helen got their small part down during the rehearsal. Claire's mom gave us the dress--which really was absolutely beautiful, with all sorts of little detail that was much more impressive in person than via email--and Helen just stared and whispered, "I love it." She was very excited to be the only one with a beautiful white dress like Claire's.
And Will -- really, what is more adorable than a little boy in a size 3T tuxedo?
So the time came, and the bridesmaids started going in one by one. I stood with Will and Helen in front of a nervous Claire and her father, having told Will and Helen that they were Claire's "line leaders." I felt pretty confident that they would do just fine.
And that's when Helen started picking her nose.
I tried to be nonchalant, addressing the issue along with others: remember to hold hands, walk slowly, and don't pick your nose. She kept going. She was really digging. There were only a couple of bridesmaids left before it was their turn. Of all the things I pictured going wrong, this one had not occurred to me. So at that point, somewhat alarmingly, I told her that if she had a booger that was bothering her, I would get it out, but that she could not walk down the aisle with her finger up her nose! She didn't want to hear it, so she turned away from me and toward Claire and her dad. A few seconds later, Claire's dad calmed my fears: "Don't worry. She ate it."
And with that little event, which I like to think was my family's contribution to distracting Claire from any nervousness she may have felt about walking down the aisle, they were off.
They did wonderfully -- holding hands, walking slowly, Helen giving Peter a high five at the altar, and then going to sit down with the rest of our family.
All the kids were interested in the ceremony and the logistics of exactly when they were married and whether Claire's last name was now Tipps. Charlie and Joe had been asking for days whether the minister would say "You may kiss the bride," so that was a highlight. (After the kiss, Helen asked, "Did she want him to kiss her?) And afterwards, we went to the reception, where the Astros groom cake was worth the trip to Memphis for Joe and Charlie. The kids danced a bit, then went home and crashed.
But not before Joseph asked when we could see Claire again. When I told him that she would be living in Houston after she got back from her honeymoon and we could see her anytime, he was thrilled. As are we.
I know the wedding was about Peter and Claire, but I was pretty proud of my two adorable kiddos too.
*Photos courtesy of the sister of the groom, who annoyingly has the same camera we do but takes much better pictures with it.
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1 comment:
Love the pictures! So cute! I thought i died and went to heaven.... so many post on the blog when I checked!
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